High altitude aviation mask



y 2, 1944' A. H. BULBULIAN HIGH ALTITUDE AVIATION MASK Filed Sept. 22,194i 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 2, 1944. A. H. BULBULIAN ,3

HIGH ALTITUDE AVIATION MASK Filed Sept. 22, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 4- 3F1L .5. 27 a 44 4 34- 33 43 Inventor? 5a AHBulbulLan.

43 3 After 69.

y 2, v A. H. BULBULIAN 2,348,108

HIGH ALTITUDE AVIATION MASK Filed Sept. 22, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3uLLcLn.

E. HBUuQ Inventor:

Patented May 2, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE men an'rr'runa AVI TIONMASK Arthur H. Bulbulian, Rochester, Application September 2 2, 1941,Serial No. 411,869

'5 Claims.

My invention relates to high altitude aviation masks and has for itsobject to provide a mask 7 there is a marginal contour arrangementadapted to engage the face of a wearer on each side and.

under the chin so as to provide a breathing chamber which is completelysealed from outside air.

Oxygen and atmospheric air is supplied to this breathing chamber fromany suitable type of apparatus, but, as contemplated to be used with mythe walls of the inlet passageway for a considerable distance. Thechamber will be kept warm I fromexhalation gases and will exchange heatwith thegases of inhalation whereby said gases, normally quite cold,will be primarily warmed and aid in the comfort and satisfaction inbreathing of the wearer.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear inconnection with the detailed description thereof which will now be givenin the following specification, and the features of .novelty by whichthe aforesaid advantageous remask, from what is known'as the demand typeof oxygen control mechanism such as is shown and described in co-pendingapplication of Jay A. Heidbrink No. 387,936. With such apparatus adifliculty is encountered in providing airpassages for gases ofexhalation, which, while being sufliciently free and open to preventundue efiort in breathing, and which will close upon inhalation, yetwhich will be soprotected that freezing, either to render the valveinoperative or to close or restrict breathing passages, will beprevented.

It is a principal object of my invention, therefore; to provide a maskadapted for use with the demand type oxygen control apparatus which willcontain within the mask body an exhaling valve adapted to close uponinhalation, in combination with exhaling and inhaling passages whichare. eflectively protected againstany exposure to outside freezingatmosphere that might cause such freezing and restriction.

It is a. further object of my invention to pro- -vide an opening fromthe breathing chamber toward the bottom thereof which is adapted toconnect directly with the demand type control oxygen deliveringapparatus and to provide exhaling valve mechanism above the inhalationopening sults remedying the diiiiculties outlined are achieved areparticularly pointed out in the claims. I

In the drawings illustrating my invention in one of its forms: Fig. '1is a front perspective view showing the mask in position on the face ofa wearer.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken through the exhaling passages toshow how they extend "structure with some parts broken away and insection.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of the outer mask body which is adapted to beremoved from the inner with large air passageways leading therefromoutwardly and downwardly to open to atmosphere freely through largedownwardly turned go to atmosphere, which chamber shall surround maskbody with some parts broken away and in section.

Fig. 3 is a partialview of the intermediate mask body piece with partsbroken away and in section.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the centerof the mask structure showing the formation of a mouth microphonechamber.

As illustrated, there is a main outside mask portions adapted to engagethe face of the wearerand when worn provides a sealed breathing chamberI3.

The outer body member "I overlies in its entirety the inner body memberII and is shaped and formed to provide an exhalation outlet chamber I4.The intermediate body member I2 is positioned within the outer member Inabout the chamber to provide dead air space insulation between the outerwall of outer body member II and the exhalation chamber l4.

Considering first the outer body member this embodies. Fig. 3, a mainportion l5 bulged outwardly from the position of the face when the maskis worn and having portions l6 and I1, Fig. 6, laterally extended anduniting with a lower portion I8 adapted to underlie the chin and anupper portion IQ for receiving the nose of the wearer. The marginalportions of the inner part I include a flat bearing piece which extendscontinuously about the parts of the mask body l6, l1, l8 and lit at 20,2|, 22 and 23. This marginal portion is provided with a feather-edgedinwardly extended flap 24 which, as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, extendsentirely about the marginal bearing pieces 20, 2|, 22 and 23.

The inner body member H is provided with an extension 26 formed integralwith it which provides a chamber 21 communicating through an opening-28, Figs. 3 and 5 with the interior of breathing chamber [3. Theextension 26 is carried downwardly into an outwardly and downwardlyextending tube 29 which opens at 30 into a tube 3|, Fig. 1, which isadapted to a connect with the demand-type-controlled oxygen deliveringapparatus (not shown). The interior of breathing chamber I3 is furtherprovided with pockets 3| and 32, as indicated in Fig. 5, which areformed by bulging outwardly parts of the mask body as indicated best at33 and 34 of Fig. 5. There is further an annular head 36 which extendsalong the outside of the inner body portion, as clearly indicated inFig.

This arrangement is such that when the mask is assembled with the outerbody portion Ill upon it a dead air chamber 38, FE. 5, will be providedbetween the mask bodies to'aid in insulating the breathing chamber [3from outside atmdsphere. The inner body portion of the mask is furtherprovided, as indicated at 39 with a round opening in which is positionedan exhaling valve member 46. This valve is shown with a flap valve piece4|, but it will be obvious that any form of check valve may be usedwhich will permit exhalation gases to go to chamber l4 and w ll preventreturn of gas or air from said chamber to breathing chamber I3 wheneverinhalation takes place and the pressure falls within chamber I 3.

The outer mask body It], as shown in Fig. 1, comprises a main bodyportion 42 which overlies the body portion of the inner mask body llthroughout and provides the insulating dead air space 38. This outerbody portion is provided with an extension 43 terminating in twodownwardly turned tubes 44 and 45 which are open at their ends asindicated at 46 and 41, Figs. 6 and 7. This extension 43, as clearlyindicated in Figs. 3 and 4, goes considerably beyond the extension 26 ofthe inner mask body and above gages the ribs 48 throughout and holds theparts 43 and i2 spaced to provide a dead air space 6|, Figs. 2 and 3, orin eflect dead air space channels 52, Figs. 3 and 4. As best shown inFigs. 8 and 9, the intermediate mask body I2 is formed with afeather-edged annular extension 53 which comes between the inner andouter mask bodes l0 and II around all parts of the chamber l4 to points55 and 56 at the beginning of tubular extensions 44 and 45, where thetubular extensions 49 and 50 enter the extensions 44 and 45, as clearlyshown at 51 and 58 of Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 9 a microphone casing or turret 60 may be provideddirectly opposite the opening 28 through the wall l5 of the inner maskbody. In this form the parts i2 and 43 will simply be carried over thetop of the microphone body as shown and a special holding device 6| willbe applied thereto, all as shown in Fig. 9. This will house a voicemicrophone of a well-known type positioned substantially in front of thewearer's mouth and opposite or nearly opposite the opening 28 intoinhaling chamber 27. Otherwise the microphone may be the throat form ofmicrophone which will not be associated with the mask itself.

The advantages of my invention will appear from the foregoingdescription. The double wall of the whole mask body in and of itselfwill provide a considerable measure of protection against cold enteringthe breathing chamber. Added to that are the dead air spaces 3:: whichfurther insulate the breathing chamber from outside cold. Of utmostimportance, however, is the arrangement of exhaling valve openings intoan exhalation chamber and downwardlyleading passageways, the exhalingvalve being above the inlet passageways so that the gases of exhalationsurround for a major part of its extent the walls of the inletpassageway, thus at the same time maintaining with the warm gases ofexhalation suflicient heat certainly to prevent possibility of freezingof the exhaling the opening 39 therefrom and exhaling valve 40 to formthe enclosing chamber l4 heretofore referred to. It will be noted fromFig. 2 that chamber l4 extends into the outlets 46 and 41 formed bytubular extensions 44 and 45 of out ward extension 43 of the outer maskbody. Said outward extension 43 is formed with a series of ribs 48running lengthwise along its inside, as indicated clearly in Fig. 4.

Inside of mask extension 43 and forming the outer wall of chamber I4 isan intermediate mask piece l2 which, as shown in Fig. 2 is provided withtubular extensions 49 and 50 and which envalve but also transferringthis heat to the inlet passageway so that the oxygen rebreathed gasesand any added air will be preliminarily warmed in some degree and not becarried to the lungs of the wearer at too low a temperature for comfortand satisfactory inhalation. A further advantage is that this exhalationchamber by the use of the intermediate casing is very effectivelyinsulated by reason of the fact that a continuous dead air space isprovided between the intermediate and outer casings for this purpose.

It is a further advantage that the exhaling passages from and about theexhaling valves and to discharge to atmosphere are relatively large,insuring free and easy breathing; that also all passages and walls trenddownwardly so that any condensation which may take place in thesepassages and on these walls is normally moved to discharge through andout of downwardly turned air passages, and that these air passagescannot be plugged or injuriously restricted by formation of ice nomatter what the severity "of cold may be in which the mask is used.

A further great advantage of my mask is the comfort with which it may beworn in conjunction with the helmet and goggles of the aviator givingvery complete protection to the face of the wearer as well asexceptionally favorable breathing conditions.

I claim:

l. A high altitude aviation mask comprising a mask body formed to coverthe cheeks, nose and chin of the wearer and having inner marginalsurfaces for contacting said portions of the face' and under the chin toseal against it and form a breathing chamber enclosing nose and mouth,

said mask body formed with two centrally alined openings one above theother, a passageway lead- I valve located in and across the upperopening,

and means forming an exhaling chamber over said exhaling valve and anindependent passage leading therefrom, said chamber separated from theinhaling passageway by a wall thereof.

2. A high altitude aviation mask comprising a mask body formed to coverthe cheeks, nose and chin of the wearer and having inner marginalsurfaces for contacting said portions of the face to sealagainst it andform a breathing chamber enclosing nose and mouth, said mask body formedwith centrally alined openings one above the other, a passageway leadingto the 'lower opening for conveying inhalation gases into the breathingchamber, an exhaling valve located in the upper opening, and an outermask body corresponding in size and shape with the first named mask bodyand held upon it provided with an extension forming an exhaling chamberover the exhaling valve, and a passage leading from the chamberseparated from and independent of the inhaling with centrally alinedopenings one, above the other, a passageway leading to the lower openingfor conveying inhalation gases into the breathing chamber, an exhalingvalve located in the upper opening, and means forming an exhalingchamber over said exhaling valve and forming a pair of divergingpassages leading therefrom to the lower part of said mask, said chamberand passages surrounding said inhaling passageway.

4. A high altitude aviation mask comprising a mask body formed to coverthe cheeks, nose and chin of the wearer and having inner marginalsurfaces for contacting said portions of the face to seal against it andform a breathing chamber enclosing nose and mouth, said mask body formedwith openings one above the other, a passageway leading to the loweropening for conveying inhalation gases into the breathing chamber, anexhaling valve located in the upper opening, and an outer mask bodycorresponding in size and shape with the first named mask body and heldupon it provided with an extension forming an erhaling chamber over theexhaling valve, a passage leading from the chamber separated from andindependent of the inhaling passageway,- and a liner member on theinside of the exhaling chamber held spaced from its inner aialls forinsulating the exhaling chamber from outside atmosphere.

5. A high altitude aviation mask comprising a mask body formed to coverthe cheeks, nose and chin of the wearer and having inner marginalsurfaces for contacting said portions of the face to seal against it andform a breathing chamber enclosing nose and mouth, said mask body formedwith openings one above the other, a passageway leading to the loweropening for conveying inhalation gases into the breathing chamber, anexhaling valve located in the upper opening, a second member forming anexhaling chamber over said exhaling valve and forming a passage leadingtherefrom, and a lining member adjacent and held spaced from the insidewall of said exhaling chamber.

ARTHUR H. BULBULIAN.

